Tony Romo is changing his style of play

[Don Corleone]

and it's boring to watch. It might be a work in progress that pays off later, I'm not sure. I just can't stand to watch it. It looks pathetic right now. Garret game planned for this, is he trying to make Tony a true pocket passer? Look at the play calls, 15-20 yard pass plays downfield that take a long time to develop, with 5 step drop backs, multiple reads, etc. I have never seen Romo sit in the pocket for so long, especially when there is nobody open. I thought we got rid of Bledsoe?

Tony Romo is not that style of quarterback (yet anyway). Are they trying to change his style to limit INT's? All I'm saying is there seems like there was a game plan from Garret to keep Romo in the pocket and it didn't work. So where do you go from here? Do you stay with it and hope he gets better at it or just abandon it right away and start moving Romo around, free him up, let him scramble, let him sling it and hope for limited turnovers?

I'm startled at his inability to recognize the blitz. QB 101 says that you must identify the safeties at all times, and not allow them to strip sack you.

 

[Juke99]

I'm startled at his inability to recognize the blitz. QB 101 says that you must identify the safeties at all times, and not allow them to strip sack you.

I'm starting to get this very sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that there was a reason he went undrafted...I'm not at all giving up on him yet...but there's that little voice saying "Hey, he was undrafted for a reason"

 

[Cochese]

I'm startled at his inability to recognize the blitz. QB 101 says that you must identify the safeties at all times, and not allow them to strip sack you.

Not to excuse him, but the play call set up the strip sack perfectly as we motioned TC out of the backfield to the side that the safety eventually came from. It really couldnt have set up any better for the Broncos.

 

[Don Corleone]

I'm starting to get this very sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that there was a reason he went undrafted...I'm not at all giving up on him yet...but there's that little voice saying "Hey, he was undrafted for a reason"

That is true, but what is equally startling is the fact that the Broncos have a new 3-4 defense pieced together with a bunch of castoffs and "has beens". Yet they have more innovative blitz schemes than our 3-4 defense.

 

[craig71]

Bull****. He is playing to not lose.

Maybe it's because he lacks confidence or it is because he's not as good as the hype.I don't pretend to know the answers,but i'm not afraid of looking at things from a different perspective either.The bottom line is that this team has a struggling quarterback who needs to get out of his funk,if it doesn't happen pretty soon this organization will have to face the reality that they will need to go in another direction.If he turns it around fine,but it's looking like he has other issues that are more mental than physical.

Craig

 

[Colo]

We went after their best corner with our fourth best receiver. Twice. Something to gnaw on.

true - I read though that the blitz was designed to force Romo to make that throw. You have to credit Denver for good defensive schemes. Tony didn't have time to sit back and read the whole field. He has to go to the hot route when the blitz is coming. He put the ball on the money with that last throw, Champ just made a great play.

 

[superpunk]

Not to excuse him, but the play call set up the strip sack perfectly as we motioned TC out of the backfield to the side that the safety eventually came from. It really couldnt have set up any better for the Broncos.

That safety timed it perfectly, too. I agree.

 

[Don Corleone]

true - I read though that the blitz was designed to force Romo to make that throw. You have to credit Denver for good defensive schemes. Tony didn't have time to sit back and read the whole field. He has to go to the hot route when the blitz is coming. He put the ball on the money with that last throw, Champ just made a great play.

Again, the irony is that Denver showed they have a better grasp of the 3-4 defense, with more innovation than we do, with all of the 1st round picks on our d-line and all.

That is what frustrates me as a fan.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

true - I read though that the blitz was designed to force Romo to make that throw. You have to credit Denver for good defensive schemes. Tony didn't have time to sit back and read the whole field. He has to go to the hot route when the blitz is coming. He put the ball on the money with that last throw, Champ just made a great play.

On the goal line, all routes are essentially hot routes. If you rewatch those last two plays, you will see that the Cowboys had both Hurd and Miles running quick slants. The question I would have is, why did Tony elect to throw at Bailey? That, to me, makes little sense. It seems like you would go towards the most favorable matchup. TE or who ever is not matched up on Bailey.

I don't know.

 

[Don Corleone]

TE or who ever is not matched up on Bailey.

TE was kept in to block. That was Witten time IMO, and he scores in that situation.

Hurd and Austin should be nothing but decoys when the game is on the line.

 

[TD-33]

Maybe it's because he lacks confidence or it is because he's not as good as the hype.I don't pretend to know the answers,but i'm not afraid of looking at things from a different perspective either.The bottom line is that this team has a struggling quarterback who needs to get out of his funk,if it doesn't happen pretty soon this organization will have to face the reality that they will need to go in another direction.If he turns it around fine,but it's looking like he has other issues that are more mental than physical.

Craig

Sorry for being direct, wasn't trying to offend.
Aikman has been critical of these guys and his opinion probably counts for more than most of the people on this forum.

"He's been a little off today. Watching him in the pocket, he does not look comfortable...He's not throwing with confidence."

However we all spin it, he isn't himself and for example on the 50yard play where he eluded the sack, slipped out and improvised with a pass while being hit Aikman said something to the effect of 'what a great pass, great touch on that, there's the Romo we're used to seeing.'

I don't know what his deal is. Last year he decided to be more like Brady with the pocket thing and that not only didn't work for him, that's partially why he was hurt so much imo. But, he evaluates himself and wants to be better, he realized it didn't work for him and he ditched it. He wanted to protect the ball as a priority so he keeps both hands on it and he's done that very well compared to last year. Maybe what he's doing now is something he thinks will help but DOESN'T and will revert back vs the Chiefs. Maybe Garrett has been coaching him down. I don't know but I do know the guy will look at himself and figure it out. Hopefully this week.

 

[Brooksey]

Tony is not changing his style of plays. Go back and rewatch Tony's games, this is who Tony is as a QB. Sometimes it effects the game negatively sometimes it does not, but these "flaws" in his game are always there, always, even when he is dominating you can see their roots. Go watch the Tampa Game where everyone was sure Tony was going to lead us to the promise land, you can see the poor passes, the throws behind or high, the slowness in gettin people up to the huddle (may not be tony's faul idk), the locking in to one reciever, etc. It is all there. This has nothing to do with changing his style of play, unless he has been changing it for the past two seasons. (which may be the case but i dont think thats what you are talking about here)

He is trying to change, trying to mature. When you lose confidence because you had a 3 pick game, when u listen to the media and us fans, u say maybe it's time to grow up and protect the ball, maybe he is trying to mature by not gambling with throws. He is just not comfortable or confident with this style yet. The gunslinger mentality is what got him there.

The more he works at it the better he will get. This had to happen at some point. When he can put it all together, we may have something. Romo has to hang in the pocket instead of slightly rolling out every time, and he has to know when to break, like he did on that 4th and 3 to Hurd.

 

[67CowboysFan]

Mickey Spagnola nailed it in one of his articles today.

At some point, you have to beat the defense, not trick ‘em. And secondly, let’s take the handcuffs off Tony Romo. The Cowboys are trying to turn him into something he’s not, and he’s not this calm, pocket passer. He is a creator, a guy who is at his best when taking chances. To me, Romo is worrying too much about not making mistakes, which sort of paralyzes his game. Just cut it loose. Let’s go. Because this methodical, connect-the-dot offense just ain’t cutting it.

http://www.ktbb.com/cowboys/2009/10/05/mick-shots-wraps-must-come-off-romo/

My sentiments exactly! Let the man play his game.

 

[goshan]

He is trying to change, trying to mature. When you lose confidence because you had a 3 pick game, when u listen to the media and us fans, u say maybe it's time to grow up and protect the ball, maybe he is trying to mature by not gambling with throws. He is just not comfortable or confident with this style yet. The gunslinger mentality is what got him there.

The more he works at it the better he will get. This had to happen at some point. When he can put it all together, we may have something. Romo has to hang in the pocket instead of slightly rolling out every time, and he has to know when to break, like he did on that 4th and 3 to Hurd.

This is the smartest post on Romo today. Won't get a lot of attention because it isn't bold or one sided. But this is the truth.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

Perhaps Mickey is correct. I didnt think it would be that difficult to ask Romo not to make a mistake. But, clearly he is over thinking this request and that, I believe, is affecting his performance.

So now, I feel just let him do his thing. Its gonna either be good or bad-but I rather him suck this way, than playing like a coward.

 

[SharutoX]

Mickey Spagnola nailed it in one of his articles today.

At some point, you have to beat the defense, not trick ‘em. And secondly, let’s take the handcuffs off Tony Romo. The Cowboys are trying to turn him into something he’s not, and he’s not this calm, pocket passer. He is a creator, a guy who is at his best when taking chances. To me, Romo is worrying too much about not making mistakes, which sort of paralyzes his game. Just cut it loose. Let’s go. Because this methodical, connect-the-dot offense just ain’t cutting it.

http://www.ktbb.com/cowboys/2009/10/05/mick-shots-wraps-must-come-off-romo/

My sentiments exactly! Let the man play his game.

I agree, I'd rather see his gunslinger mentality than this calm pocket passer. His best play(probably best throw yesterday too) yesterday was when he got out of the pocket and created. He seems to get bashed either way

 

[CaptainMorgan]

I think the guy is just gun shy. I think he's too woried about making a mistake and turning the ball over. He's become timid and not willing to take the chances that made him successful.

He's a gunslinger trying to play like an Aikman. Not gonna work.

 

[craig71]

Sorry for being direct, wasn't trying to offend.
Aikman has been critical of these guys and his opinion probably counts for more than most of the people on this forum.
However we all spin it, he isn't himself and for example on the 50yard play where he eluded the sack, slipped out and improvised with a pass while being hit Aikman said something to the effect of 'what a great pass, great touch on that, there's the Romo we're used to seeing.'

I don't know what his deal is. Last year he decided to be more like Brady with the pocket thing and that not only didn't work for him, that's partially why he was hurt so much imo. But, he evaluates himself and wants to be better, he realized it didn't work for him and he ditched it. He wanted to protect the ball as a priority so he keeps both hands on it and he's done that very well compared to last year. Maybe what he's doing now is something he thinks will help but DOESN'T and will revert back vs the Chiefs. Maybe Garrett has been coaching him down. I don't know but I do know the guy will look at himself and figure it out. Hopefully this week.

There is definately alot of spin going on,it will get worse if the losses start to pile up or if this team were to quite.I hope Romo gets it figured out,I also hope the staff can start to create some better situations.I think the truth of what is going on lies somewhere in the middle,Romo needs to be Romo but the staff needs to protect him from being too impulsive at critical parts of the game.It's going to have to be a balancing act between the players and the coaching staff to make this season a success.Can this season be salvaged,I believe it is possible.Unfortunately every week that goes by without a marked improvement makes that salvage operation harder to achieve.I hope you are right in predicting a Romo turnaround,i'm just not going to buy into that turnaround until I see consistant play from him for several weeks.

Craig

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Part of Romo's great success was his ad lib / unpredictability.

THAT has changed. Defenses ALWAYS know where they can find him = In the Pocket.

He needs get out of pocket from time to time.